Mechanical engineering involves the planning, design and development of machinery, solving problems and improving the machines used in everyday life.

In the first two years of your mechanical engineering degree, you will learn the fundamentals of engineering sciences, mathematics, engineering design, and engineering professional practice.

As you progress, you'll customise your program by focusing your studies in the general field of mechanical engineering or other areas such as manufacturing, automotive, business, mathematics or computing.

You’ll have the opportunity to design creative solutions through inspiring and sustainable design-and-build projects, as well as taking part in the Engineers Without Borders Challenge – a humanitarian-focused course offered in all RMIT engineering degrees.

Your final-year project will combine and develop the skills and knowledge defined by Engineers Australia - the experience you need to commence your professional engineering career.

Additional campus information

Years 1 and 2 are conducted on the City campus, Year 3 is conducted on both the City and Bundoora campuses, and Year 4 is conducted on the Bundoora campus.

Program structure

Years 1 and 2

In the first two years, you'll study basic mechanical engineering and science courses at the City campus. These are aimed at developing competence in essential analytical problem-solving skills and design capabilities.

All engineering students will also study an Introduction to Engineering course, incorporating a humanitarian-focused Engineers Without Borders Challenge. You’ll have the opportunity to extend this aspect of your studies by completing an Engineers Without Borders elective, enabling you to experience humanitarian engineering first-hand.

In these years, you will be exposed to the fundamentals of engineering sciences, mathematics, engineering design, and engineering professional practice.

Years 3 and 4

In the final years of the program, specialist mechanical elective courses are offered in various streams of expertise in our Bundoora East Campus.

Your final-year (capstone) project will develop and reinforce the skills and knowledge you need - as defined by Engineers Australia - to commence your professional engineering career.

You’ll also complete a work-integrated learning (industry experience) elective in Year 2, 3 or 4.

Examples of electives include:

Mechanical Design

Applied Heat and Mass Transfer

Remote Area Power Supply

Computer Integrated Manufacturing

Vehicle Power Systems

Industrial and Vehicle Aerodynamics

Mechatronic Design

Advanced Robotics

Automatic Control

Advanced Engineering Computer Aided Design

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Three project-based subjects in your final year will provide a capstone experience in which you’ll conduct an independent research project. The nature of this project may be analytical, experimental, design, computational or any combination of these.

Professional practice courses will introduce you to:

report writing and other communication skills

work modules on organisations

ethics

design and build activities

project management

occupational health and safety

sustainability

Program plans

Plans are variations offered for a program such as specialisations, modes of delivery or location. Browse a plan to see the courses our students are currently studying.